Multi-Sensor Monitoring of Athletic Performance

ABSTRACT

Athletic performance monitoring systems and methods, many of which utilize, in some manner, global positioning satellite (“GPS”) data, provide data and information to athletes and/or to equipment used by athletes during an athletic event. Such systems and methods may provide route information to athletes and/or their trainers, e.g., for pre-event planning, goal setting, and calibration purposes. Such systems and methods optionally may provide real time information to the athlete while the event takes place, e.g., to assist in reaching the pre-set goals. Additionally, data and information collected by such systems and methods may assist in post-event analysis for athletes and their trainers, e.g., to evaluate past performances and to assist in improving future performances.

RELATED APPLICATION DATA

This application is a continuation of co-pending U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 12/552,958, filed Sep. 2, 2009 in the names of Charles W. Case,Jr. and Jason P. Martin, entitled “Multi-Sensor Monitoring of AthleticPerformance,” which application is a continuation of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 11/769,545, filed Jun. 27, 2007 in the names ofCharles W. Case, Jr. and Jason P. Martin, entitled “Multi-SensorMonitoring of Athletic Performance,” now U.S. Pat. No. 7,603,255 issuedOct. 13, 2009, which application is a continuation of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 11/014,241, filed Dec. 17, 2004 in the names ofCharles W. Case, Jr. and Jason P. Martin, entitled “Multi-SensorMonitoring of Athletic Performance,” now U.S. Pat. No. 7,254,516 issuedAug. 7, 2007. All of the prior applications and patents are eachentirely incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates generally to athletic performance monitoringsystems and methods. As least some examples of athletic performancemonitoring systems and methods according to the invention utilize globalpositioning satellite data (“GPS data”) to provide data and informationto the athlete and/or to equipment used by the athlete, optionallybefore, during, and/or after an athletic performance (e.g., an athleticevent, practice, workouts, training sessions, etc.).

BACKGROUND

Increasing awareness of health benefits derived from physical exerciseand participation in athletic events has spawned an increase in thenumbers of individuals engaged in these activities. Many individualstrain or work out in clubs or indoor gyms using exercise equipment thatinclude various sensors for measuring physical and/or physiologicalparameters associated with the user's workout. For example, treadmills,elliptical trainers, stair steppers, stationary bicycles, and the likeoften provide electronic devices that measure or estimate variousphysical and/or physiological parameters associated with a workout ortraining exercise, such as the distance traveled, the elapsed time ofthe exercise, the altitude climbed, the inclination level, the movementrate (e.g., miles per hour, etc.), the heart rate, the power expended,the calories burned, the rate of calories burned, etc. In some gyms orclubs, data relating to an individual's workout may be transmittedautomatically from the exercise equipment directly to a computer systemand stored. Athletes, their trainers, and/or their coaches may gainaccess to this data, e.g., for post-workout analysis, to gauge progressor improvement, to develop future workout routines or plans, etc.

Some athletic workouts, training routines, or events simply do not lendthemselves to the use of indoor gyms and/or stationary exerciseequipment of the type described above. For example, long distancerunners (e.g., marathoners), cyclists, triathletes, and the liketypically cover long distances during each workout, and they must trainover a variety of different terrains and conditions. Such athletes alsomay quickly become bored when using stationary, indoor exerciseequipment for the length of time required to prepare for the events inwhich they compete. Moreover, some individuals simply prefer beingoutdoors and working out outdoors as compared to the confinements of anindoor gym or club. Working out individually and outdoors additionallyhas advantages over use of indoor facilities in that an individualoutdoor workout typically will not require club or gym memberships andtheir associated membership fees, thereby eliminating at least some ofthe expense involved in keeping fit and participating in athleticevents.

While monitors and sensors are available to collect data relating toathletic performance and to provide real time data to athletes as theirperformance is taking place, such monitors and sensors typically havelimitations. For example, accelerometers and other pedometer-based speedand distance monitors for use when walking or running have accuracyissues, particularly when used at speeds and/or over terrains or underother conditions that differ from their initial calibration conditions.Some sensors, such as accelerometers and barometric pressure sensors,tend to drift from their calibration or “zero” point over time, therebylimiting their accuracy and/or requiring frequent recalibration. Suchportable devices typically also do not store data and do not correlatetheir measured data to other measured physical and/or physiologicalparameters associated with the performance. For example, conventionallyavailable portable devices typically do not correlate the measured heartrate, altitude, speed, calories burned, and the like to one anotherand/or to the elapsed time and/or distance into the performance, andsuch conventional systems do not store a large volume of data for lateranalysis or use. Thus, these conventional portable exercise monitors donot allow for extensive post-exercise analysis and data processing.

Accordingly, there is a need in the art for portable athleticperformance monitoring systems and methods that correlate measuredphysical and/or physiological data associated with an athleticperformance to other data collected during the performance including theelapsed time and/or distance in the performance. There also is a need inthe art for systems and methods that will automatically store dataassociated with an athletic performance and make it available toathletes, their coaches, and/or their trainers for post-performanceanalysis. There also is a need in the art for improved athleticperformance monitoring systems and methods that will allow athletes tobetter use data generated from past performances, e.g., to gaugeimprovement or change, to set goals for the future, and/or to deviseplans and/or strategies for upcoming events.

SUMMARY

The following presents a general summary of aspects of the invention inorder to provide a basic understanding of at least some of its aspects.This summary is not an extensive overview of the invention. It is notintended to identify key or critical elements of the invention and/or todelineate the scope of the invention. The following summary merelypresents some concepts of the invention in a general form as a preludeto the more detailed description provided below.

Aspects of this invention relate to athletic performance monitoringsystems and methods, many of which utilize, in some manner, globalpositioning satellite (“GPS”) data. In some examples of systems andmethods according to the invention, GPS data may be used to calibrateother athletic performance monitoring devices, such as speedometers,speed meters, pedometers, altimeters, odometers, barometric pressuresensors, compass or direction sensors, and the like. Some examplesystems and methods according to aspects of the invention will collectand store data generated by both a GPS system and a non-GPS systemduring an athletic performance and then use the non-GPS data to provideinformation and feedback to the athlete during the performance and/or tofill in holes in the data when GPS reception is not available at theathlete's location. Still other systems and methods that collect andstore data generated by both GPS and non-GPS systems will utilize thenon-GPS data to provide real time feedback to the athlete during theperformance and optionally both GPS and non-GPS data forpost-performance analysis.

GPS information also may be collected and used in at least some exampleaspects of the invention to produce data relating the route(s) coveredby the athlete during athletic performances. For example, systems andmethods according to at least some examples of the invention may rely onGPS data to determine whether a route covered during an athleticperformance corresponds to a route covered during one or more previousathletic performances. As another example, systems and methods accordingto examples of the invention may rely on GPS data (as well aspotentially other data) as an aid in assigning a “route difficultyrating” to a route used during an athletic performance, e.g., at leastin part based on: route length; elevation changes; altitude;temperature; humidity; wind speed; wind direction; and the like. Yetadditional examples of systems and methods according to the inventionmay rely on GPS data (optionally at an athlete's new location), mapdata, and/or data relating to one or more past athletic performances tosuggest a new route for future athletic performances, e.g., at the newlocation.

GPS data and/or optionally other data may be used for other purposes inathletic performance monitoring systems and methods according to atleast some examples of the invention. For example, GPS data and/or otherperformance data may be used to control an audio, video, and/or printedinformation display device during an athletic performance. The GPSand/or other performance data, optionally combined with routeinformation, may be used as an aid to generate time goals for use by theathlete during an athletic performance.

Still additional aspects of the invention relate to the use of GPSand/or other data collected to provide information and feedback to theathlete and/or analyze the athletic performance both during theperformance and after it has concluded. For example, systems and methodsaccording to at least some examples of the invention may generatedisplays illustrating at least some data collected via the altitudemeasuring system, the other physical and/or physiological performancemonitors, and/or the GPS system. Optionally, the information will bedisplayed on a map or other representation of the route such that thephysical and/or physiological data is correlated to the athlete's time,distance, and/or location along a route. In still other examples, thedisplayed information may be used along with and/or as part of a virtualor animated “play back” of the athlete's performance.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more complete understanding of the present invention and certainadvantages thereof may be acquired by referring to the followingdescription along with the accompanying drawings, in which likereference numbers indicate like features, and wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic diagram of an example system according tothe invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates an example two-dimensional graphical display that maybe used in displaying athletic performance data collected by systems andmethods according to examples of the invention;

FIG. 3 illustrates an example display including map data andtwo-dimensional graphical data that may be used in displaying athleticperformance data collected by systems and methods according to examplesof the invention;

FIG. 4 illustrates an example three-dimensional display includingtopographical information that may be used in displaying athleticperformance data collected by systems and methods according to examplesof the invention;

FIG. 5 illustrates an example three-dimensional display includingtopographical map data and information that may be used in displayingathletic performance data collected by systems and methods according toexamples of the invention;

FIG. 6 illustrates an example three-dimensional display includingtopographical information that may be used in displaying athleticperformance data collected by systems and methods according to examplesof the invention, e.g., for displaying performance data in a “playback”format; and

FIG. 7 illustrates a schematic diagram of a computer system that may beused in analyzing and processing athletic performance data in systemsand methods according to examples of this invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following description of various example embodiments of theinvention, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form apart hereof, and in which are shown by way of illustration variousexample devices, systems, and environments in which aspects of theinvention may be practiced, and various examples of the manner in whichdata may be processed and/or displayed in examples of the invention. Itis to be understood that other specific arrangements of parts, exampledevices, systems, and environments may be utilized, different analysesand displays may be generated, and structural and functionalmodifications may be made without departing from the scope of thepresent invention.

To assist the reader, this specification is broken into varioussubsections, as follows:

Terms; General Description of Athletic Performance Monitoring Systemsand Methods According to Examples of the Invention; Specific Examples ofthe Invention; and Conclusion.

A. Terms

The following terms are used in this specification, and unless otherwisenoted or clear from the context, these terms have the meanings providedbelow.

“Performance” or “athletic performance” means any type of physicalexertion or activity. Such activities include, but are not necessarilylimited to: workout routines; training exercises; time trials; formalcompetitions; informal workouts; etc. The terms “athletic event” or“event” may be used synonymously with “athletic performance” or“performance” in this specification.

“Physical data” relating to an athlete's performance corresponds to anydata associated with or relating to any measurable characteristicrelating to the performance. Such physical data includes, but is notlimited to: physiological data (described in more detail below); elapsedtime; time of day; distance covered; number of steps taken; speed;acceleration; angular velocity; angular acceleration; altitude;barometric pressure; gyroscope generated data; heading or directionaldata; ambient temperature data; ambient humidity data; wind directiondata; wind speed data; etc.

“Physiological data” relating to an athlete's performance corresponds toany data associated with or relating to any measurable characteristicrelating to the athlete's person or body. Such physiological dataincludes, but is not limited to: heart rate; pulse rate; caloriesburned; calorie burn rate; METs; body weight; body temperature; bloodpressure; electrocardiogram data; etc.

B. General Description of Athletic Performance Monitoring Systems andMethods According to Examples of the Invention

In general, aspects of this invention relate to athletic performancemonitoring systems and methods that include various features orfunctions. Some more specific example aspects of the invention relate toathletic performance monitoring systems that utilize, in some manner,global positioning satellite (“GPS”) data. In one example, aspects ofthe invention relate to athletic performance monitoring systems thatinclude: (a) a global positioning satellite receiver that obtains datarelating to a series of time-stamped position points; (b) a firstathletic performance monitor that measures physical data relating to anathlete's performance; and (c) means for generating calibration data forthe first athletic performance monitor based on data obtained via theglobal positioning satellite receiver. As examples, the globalpositioning satellite data may be used to calibrate athletic performancemonitoring devices such as: speedometers, pedometers, altimeters,odometers, barometric pressure sensors, compass or direction sensors,and the like. The calibration data may be provided, in at least someinstances, as one or more “correction factors” that may be applied to ameasured parameter, optionally where the specific correction factor tobe used is selected based on one or more of the other measuredparameters during the athletic performance.

Another example aspect of the invention relates to athletic performancemonitoring systems that include: (a) a global positioning satellitereceiver that obtains data relating to a series of time-stamped positionpoints; (b) a first athletic performance monitor that provides datarelating to at least one of a speed or a distance moved by an athleteduring an athletic performance; (c) a second athletic performancemonitor that provides data relating to a direction in which the athletemoves during the athletic performance; and (d) means for storing datarelating to the athletic performance, wherein the means for storingstores data collected via the first and second athletic performancemonitors when global positioning satellite reception is not available.

Further examples of this invention relate to other athletic performancemonitoring systems that utilize GPS data. Another more specific exampleof the invention relates to athletic performance monitoring systems thatinclude: (a) a global positioning satellite receiver that obtains datarelating to a series of time-stamped position points; (b) a firstathletic performance monitor that provides data relating to at least oneof a speed or a distance moved by an athlete during an athleticperformance; (c) means for storing data relating to the athleticperformance collected via the global positioning satellite receiver andthe first athletic performance monitor; (d) means for displayinginformation associated with the athletic performance during theperformance using data collected via the first athletic performancemonitor and not using data collected via the global positioningsatellite receiver; and (e) means for analyzing and displayinginformation associated with the athletic performance when theperformance is no longer taking place, wherein the means for analyzingand displaying information uses at least data collected via the globalpositioning satellite receiver.

GPS information and/or map data may be used in at least some exampleaspects of the invention to collect data relating to the route(s)covered by the athlete during an athletic performance. One examplerelates to athletic performance monitoring systems that include: (a) aglobal positioning satellite receiver that obtains data relating to aseries of time-stamped position points encountered during an athleticperformance; and (b) means for determining whether a route coveredduring the athletic performance corresponds to a route covered during aprevious athletic performance. As another example, athletic performancemonitoring systems according to at least some examples of the inventionmay include: (a) a global positioning satellite receiver that obtainsdata relating to a series of time-stamped position points encounteredduring an athletic performance; and (b) means for assigning a routedifficulty rating to a route used during the athletic performance, atleast in part based on at least one of: route length; elevation changesover the route; altitude of the route; temperature during the athleticperformance; humidity during the athletic performance; wind speed duringthe athletic performance; and wind direction during the athleticperformance. Yet another example athletic performance monitoring systemmay include: (a) a global positioning satellite receiver that obtainsdata relating to a series of time-stamped position points encounteredduring an athletic performance; (b) means for storing data associatedwith one or more routes utilized by an athlete during a plurality ofathletic performances; and (c) means for suggesting a new route for afuture athletic performance, wherein the means for suggesting the newroute determines the new route, at least in part, by comparing dataassociated with the new route's location with the stored data associatedwith the routes utilized by the athlete during at least some of thestored plurality of athletic performances.

GPS data may be used for still other purposes in athletic performancemonitoring systems according to at least some examples of the invention.For example, such systems may include: (a) a global positioningsatellite receiver that obtains data relating to a series oftime-stamped position points encountered during an athletic performance;(b) means for controlling an audio, video, or other display deviceduring the athletic performance based, at least in part, on dataobtained via the global positioning satellite receiver; and, optionally,(c) an audio, video, or other device for providing audio, video,printed, or other information to an athlete during the athleticperformance.

Still additional athletic performance monitoring systems according to atleast some examples of the invention may include: (a) an altitudemeasuring system that obtains data relating to an altitude at anathlete's location as an athletic performance is taking place; (b) afirst athletic performance monitor that provides data relating to atleast one of a speed or a distance moved by the athlete; (c) a secondathletic performance monitor that provides physiological data relatingto the athlete's performance (e.g., heart rate; pulse rate; bloodpressure; and/or body temperature); (d) means for storing data relatingto the athlete's performance, wherein the means for storing stores atleast some data collected via the altitude measuring system, the firstathletic performance monitor, and the second athletic performancemonitor; and (e) means for displaying at least some data collected viathe altitude measuring system, the first athletic performance monitor,and the second athletic performance monitor in a time or distancecorrelated manner.

Additional example aspects of the invention relate to systems thatanalyze and/or process data collected during an athletic performance.Examples of such systems may include: (a) means for receiving input datarelating to an athletic performance; and (b) means for displayinginformation relating to the athletic performance, wherein theinformation displayed correlates at least one physical characteristic ofthe athletic performance to time, distance, or location along a routeused during the athletic performance, and wherein the informationdisplayed correlates at least one physiological characteristic of theathletic performance to time, distance, or location along the route usedduring the athletic performance. Another example of such systems mayinclude: (a) means for receiving input data relating to a route to beused during an upcoming athletic event, wherein the input data includesinformation for producing an actual or animated view of the route; (b)means for receiving input data relating to an athletic performanceduring the athletic event; and (c) means for simultaneously displayinginformation from the input data relating to the route and from the inputdata relating to the athletic performance so as to provide data playback of the athletic performance during the athletic event over theroute of the athletic event.

Still additional example aspects of the invention may relate to use ofathletic performance monitoring systems according to the invention toassist the athlete's participation in the event. Such systems mayinclude, for example: (a) means for receiving input data relating to aroute to be used during an athletic event, wherein the input dataincludes at least distance and route difficulty data relating to theroute; (b) means for receiving input data relating to a target time ortiming goal for all or a portion of the athletic event; and (c) meansfor calculating plural time goals along the route or for portions of theroute using the input data relating to the route and the input datarelating to the target time or timing goal so that the athlete will meetthe input target time or timing goal for the athletic event if the timegoals are met.

Still additional aspects of the invention relate to methods formonitoring athletic performance, e.g., using various athleticperformance monitoring systems including those described above (and themore specific systems described below in more detail). Additionalaspects of the invention relate to computer-readable media includingcomputer-executable instructions stored thereon for operating thevarious systems and performing the various methods described above.

Specific examples of the invention are described in more detail below.The reader should understand that these specific examples are set forthmerely to illustrate examples of the invention, and they should not beconstrued as limiting the invention.

C. Specific Examples of the Invention

The various figures in this application illustrate athletic performancemonitoring systems and methods according to various examples of thisinvention.

1. General Description

Aspects of this invention relate to systems and methods that athletesand/or their trainers or coaches may use to prepare for, monitor, and/orevaluate athletic performances. At least some systems and methodsaccording to examples of the invention utilize global positioningsatellite (“GPS”) data in some manner to provide data and information toathletes, their trainers, their coaches, and/or to equipment used byathletes before, during, and/or after an athletic performance.

FIG. 1 illustrates an example system 100 that may be used to collectdata and provide information to athletes, their trainers, and/orcoaches, before, during, and/or after an athletic performance. Suchsystems 100 may include both hardware that may be worn or carried by theathlete and/or his/her equipment during the athletic performance (e.g.,to collect data relating to the athletic performance), and software,optionally that runs on a personal computer 112, that may be used, forexample, to prepare for upcoming performances and/or to analyze pastperformances. Various features of such performance monitoring systemsand methods are described in more detail below.

Systems 100 and methods according to examples of the invention mayinclude one or more devices that collect data relating to and/or duringthe athletic performance. As examples, systems 100 and methods accordingto the invention may include one or more physiological monitors 102 thatmonitor one or more physiological characteristics associated with theathlete's performance. Any suitable or desired physiological monitor 102may be used without departing from the invention, such as a heart ratemonitor, a pulse monitor, a blood pressure monitor, a body temperaturemonitor, an electrocardiogram monitor, etc. In addition, oralternatively, systems 100 and methods according to at least someexamples of the invention may collect and utilize data generated by oneor more physical performance monitors 104, such as a speed/distancemonitor or other type of speedometer, a pedometer, an accelerometer (formeasuring linear or angular acceleration), an altimeter, a gyroscope(for measuring rotation rate), a gyroscope position monitor (formeasuring relative angular position), a compass (e.g., a magneticcompass), an ambient pressure sensor (e.g., barometric pressure), a windspeed monitor, a wind direction monitor, an air temperature measuringdevice, a humidity measuring device, a stopwatch or other timing device,and the like. At least some portion of the physical monitor(s) 104and/or the physiological monitor(s) 102 may be carried on or by theathlete and/or his/her equipment during the performance.

Furthermore, systems 100 and methods according to at least some examplesof this invention will utilize data and information relating to anathletic performance collected by or provided via a global positioningmonitor or system 106. As is conventionally known, GPS systems monitorthe locations of persons and/or objects on earth using a series oforbiting GPS satellites. In addition to providing data relating to theabsolute latitudinal and longitudinal position coordinates of a GPSreceiver, data provided via GPS systems may be adapted and used toprovide information regarding elapsed time during a performance,distance moved, elevation or altitude at a specific location, elevationchanges over time, movement direction, movement speed, and the like. Atleast some portion of the GPS monitoring system 106 may be carried bythe athlete and/or his/her equipment during the athletic performance.

Systems 100 and methods according to at least some examples of thisinvention further may include other peripheral devices 108 that may beused before, during, and/or after an athletic performance. Suchperipheral devices 108 may include, for example, an audio or videoplayer, e.g., to provide entertainment or other information to the user;a cell phone and/or its associated voice, data transmission, and/orreception equipment; a system for delivering printed or textualinformation, such as a beeper or pager type device; other datatransmission and reception equipment; and the like. The peripheralequipment 108 further may be carried by the athlete and/or his/herequipment during the athletic performance, and it further may includeequipment such as headphones, earpieces, microphones, goggles, and thelike, to enable transmission of information to and/or receipt ofinformation from the athlete (or others).

For use at least while the athletic performance is taking place, systems100 and methods according to at least some examples of the invention mayinclude a portable and/or wearable display device 110. This displaydevice 110 may take on any suitable or desired form without departingfrom the invention. For example, it may be a digital display device, anaudio display device, a video or pictorial display device, analphanumeric display device (e.g., for displaying printed text), a headworn display device, an arm/wrist worn display device (e.g., a watch orsimilar device), a clip-on display device (akin to a beeper, cell phone,or the like), etc. Additionally, an athlete (and/or his/her equipment)may carry more than one display device 110, if desired, and/or a singledisplay device 110 may provide information in many different forms orformats from plural sources without departing from the invention, suchas in the various forms and from the various sources described above.The portable/wearable display device 110 may be embodied in and/or akinto a conventional watch, PDA, MP3 player, cell phone, beeper, pager, orthe like. The display device 110 also may provide “real time” data tothe athlete as the performance is taking place, e.g., data from any ofthe various sensors or other sources, optionally along with otherinformation, such as messages from a coach or trainer, updated timing orother goal information, weather information, data or informationgenerated by processing the previously generated performance data,calibration and/or correction factor information for one or more of thesensors, etc.

In addition to providing real time information while an athleticperformance is taking place, systems 100 and methods according toexamples of the invention may provide information both before and/orafter the athletic performance takes place. For example, systems 100 andmethods according to examples of the invention may operate inconjunction with a personal computer 112, such as a laptop computer, apalmtop computer, a pocket-sized personal computer, a desktop computer,and the like. The personal computer 112 may provide information or datato the various monitoring systems and/or other devices (e.g., devices102, 104, 106, 108, and 110), and it also may receive data andinformation from these devices 102, 104, 106, 108, and 110. Thistransfer of data and information may occur in any desired manner withoutdeparting from the invention, including, for example, via cell phonelink technology, radio transceiver technology, satellite technology,wired or wireless computer network connections, and/or in any othermanner, including in conventional manners known in the art. Additionallyand/or alternatively, the stored data may be uploaded to a websiteeither during the athletic performance and/or at a later time, e.g.,using cell phone technology, wired or wireless computer networkconnections, satellite transmissions, or other means.

Before an athletic performance, the personal computer 112 may be used inmany different ways and for many different purposes in accordance withexamples of the invention. For example, the computer 112 may be used todetermine a route to be used by the athlete, e.g., if the athlete istraveling or would like a different route at his/her home location. Asanother example, computer 112 may be used by the athlete, trainer, orcoach, potentially in combination with map or topographical information,to consider overall route information for an athletic event and devise astrategy for that event (e.g., to determine timing goals, benchmark orlandmark times, split times, etc.). Route and/or other data orinformation may be presented to the athlete, trainer, coach, etc., viathe computer display screen 114. In at least some instances, the displayscreen 114 may present the same information as that shown on orpresented by the portable/wearable display 110. Optionally, if desired,a single device may perform the functions of both the portable/wearabledisplay 110 and the display screen 114 without departing from theinvention.

Data collected by one or more of the various monitors, e.g., 102, 104,106, and 108, during the course of an athletic performance may betransmitted to the portable display device 110 and/or to the personalcomputer 112, either during and/or after the performance. As will bedescribed in more detail below, if desired, portable portions of thesystem 100 may include memory that stores data associated with theathletic performance, and this data later may be downloaded to thepersonal computer 112 (e.g., after the performance has finished), formore detailed processing and/or analysis, e.g., to assist the athlete,trainers, and/or coaches to evaluate past performances, to compareperformances, to assist in improving future performances, to devisetraining regimes, to devise strategies for an approaching event, etc. Asanother example, if desired, one or more of the portable components ofthe system 100 (e.g., a peripheral device 108, such as a cell phone linkor other data transmission device) may transmit data to the personalcomputer 112 while the athletic performance is taking place and/or itmay receive data from the computer 112 while the event is taking place(e.g., with updated split or lap times, landmark or other locationinformation, position information relating to other competitors, etc.).

More specific examples of sensors, data, and information used by and/orcollected in various examples of systems and methods according to theinvention follow.

2. Multi-Sensor Systems

Several examples of systems and methods according to the invention relyon and/or receive input data relating to an athletic performance from aplurality of sensors, e.g., such as from physiological performancemonitor(s) 102, physical performance monitor(s) 104, a GPS monitor 106,and/or other peripheral devices 108 as illustrated in FIG. 1. Thehardware worn or carried by the athlete and/or his/her equipment duringthe athletic performance (e.g., during a run, race, etc.) may includeone or more modules or pods that contain one or more of the desiredsensors. These modules preferably are battery-powered, optionally usingrechargeable batteries, and in at least some example systems and methodsaccording to the invention, the modules, pods, and/or sensor(s) mayinclude:

-   -   A watch, PDA, MP3, cell phone, or other convenient display        device;    -   A Heart Rate Monitor;    -   A “speed pod” for measuring speed and/or distance, e.g., worn on        the foot, leg, or other body part;    -   A GPS pod; and    -   Other peripherals, such as a cell phone link, audio player, etc.

Notably, any combination of these sensors and other elements may beincluded in a single housing. For example, a foot pod housing maycontain both the GPS and accelerometer sensors, if desired, oralternatively, the GPS sensor may exist in its own pod. As anotherexample, the display device additionally may include a magnetic compass,a pressure sensor, or other elements.

In systems and methods according to at least some examples of theinvention, complementary sensor groups may be used in combination toovercome the various shortcomings of the individual sensors. Forexample, a GPS system alone could provide much of the physical data ofinterest for monitoring an athletic performance, but GPS systems sufferfrom deficiencies in that they consume significant power (therebyshortening battery life), and they cannot provide information at alltimes and/or at all locations (i.e., they do not have 100% antennacoverage). Therefore, systems and methods according to at least someexamples of the invention will include additional sensors (and in someinstances redundant sensors) to assure that the desired athleticperformance data is collected and available, e.g., even when someindividual systems are not available (for example, when a GPS systemcannot get a signal and/or in instances where power savings isimportant). More detailed examples of complementary groupings of sensorsare described below.

a. Combined GPS and Accelerometer-Based or Other Pedometer-Based Speedand Distance Monitor

One example of a complementary grouping of sensors that may be includedin systems according to the invention relates to the combined use of aGPS monitoring system and an accelerometer-based or otherpedometer-based speed and distance monitor. Conventional GPS systemssuffer from satellite outages at various times and/or locations, e.g.,around trees, tall buildings, indoors, whenever the antenna is blocked,etc. Additionally, there typically is a relative slow “warm start” or“cold start” satellite acquisition time when a GPS system initially ispowered on. GPS systems also tend to use substantial electrical power totake a reading. Accelerometer-based or other pedometer-based speed anddistance monitoring systems, on the other hand, suffer from inherentsystem inaccuracy (e.g., due to sensor drift, mounting errors, and/orthe fact that typically three orthogonal axes of acceleration are notsensed). Additionally, accelerometer-based or other pedometer-basedspeed and distance monitoring systems are incapable of providingabsolute position and/or altitude information. Typically,accelerometer-based or other pedometer-based speed and distance monitorsare calibrated for a particular user and/or mounting position, whichincreases the difficulty of their use and deters from their accuracyunder a wide range of use conditions.

Using an athletic performance monitoring system that combines a GPSmonitor and an accelerometer-based or other pedometer-based speed anddistance monitor according to at least some examples of this inventionprovides many potential advantages and avoids or lessens the impact ofthe disadvantages inherent in each system. For example, the GPS system(and its absolute position detecting capability) may be used tocalibrate an accelerometer-based or other pedometer-based speed anddistance monitor. Conventionally, users calibrate existingaccelerometer-based or other pedometer-based speed and distance monitorsby running or walking a known distance, for example, on a level track.Once the known distance has been covered, the user looks at the measuredspeed and distance monitor distance results and sees what that monitorhas determined to have been covered (e.g., the monitor may determinethat the user moved 410 meters (e.g., based on step length) when he/sheactually ran around a 400 meter track). The user then corrects the speedand distance monitor output by pressing buttons to correct the measuredlength to match the known length and thereby setting an internalcorrection factor within the device. This correction scheme is highlyprone to errors, for example, because a user's step size typicallychanges when running, jogging, or walking. In addition, a user's stepsize may change depending on the conditions of the exercise, e.g., whenmoving uphill, downhill, into the wind, against the wind, at differentaltitudes, at changing altitudes, at different speeds, etc.

By using GPS-assisted calibration, calibration of an accelerometer-basedor other pedometer-based speed and distance monitor may take place overany distance, and/or at any location (as long as there is GPS satellitecoverage available). As noted above, users typically calibrateaccelerometer-based or other pedometer-based systems at one outing on alevel track. In accordance with at least some examples of the invention,information collected by the GPS satellite monitoring device may be usedto generate correction factors and/or calibration data for use by theaccelerometer-based or other pedometer-based speed and distance monitor.More specifically, because the GPS system is capable of measuring theabsolute distance moved by an athlete as well as the time requiredand/or altitude changes made over the course of movement, theGPS-generated data may be used to determine correction factors orcalibration data usable by an accelerometer-based or otherpedometer-based speed and distance monitor. GPS-based calibration orcollection of data for calibration or correction purposes according tothis example of the invention may be performed at any time, optionallyin background during actual use of the athletic performance monitoringsystem and/or without the user even being aware of it. As another optionor alternative, if desired, an athlete could press a button on theportable portion of the monitoring system or otherwise command thesystem to collect calibration or correction data. The use of GPS data tocalibrate and/or generate correction factors for accelerometer-based orother pedometer-based speed and distance monitors simplifies thecalibration of these devices (e.g., there is no need to make a specialtrip to the track and/or to lay out a precisely measured distance toenable calibration) and improves their accuracy.

Additionally or alternatively, in at least some examples of systems andmethods according to the invention, GPS-based calibration and/orgeneration of correction factor data for an accelerometer-based or otherpedometer-based speed and distance monitor may be performed under avariety of different use conditions, e.g., calibration data orcorrection factors may be generated for use at different movementspeeds, for use when moving uphill, for use when moving downhill, foruse at different wind speeds, for use under different wind directions,for use under any specific type of conditions during which a user's stepsize may change, etc. Moreover, this variety of correction factorsand/or calibration data may be collected, in the background, over time,as the athlete continues using the athletic performance monitoringsystem. In this manner, a “lookup table” or other “universe” or libraryof calibration data or correction factors may be built up and stored inthe monitoring system (optionally in the portable portion of thesystem), such that an appropriate correction factor could be generatedand applied for a full range of athlete speeds and/or other useconditions. A microprocessor provided with the system (optionally in theportable portion of the system, in the personal computer, etc.) may beprogrammed to interpolate between and/or extrapolate from knowncalibration or correction factors to arrive at the most appropriatecalibration or correction factor for use at any speed or other usecondition(s). Also, in this manner, different calibration or correctionfactors may be applied at different times during a single athleticperformance, e.g., based on the speed or other use conditions determinedat a given time during the performance, to further help improve theoverall accuracy of the speed and distance monitor. By having a varietyof correction or calibration factors available under differentperformance conditions, the speed and distance monitor output will tendto become more accurate, particularly over time and with increased use,because of the increased number of calibration and correction factorsgenerated with increased use.

Accordingly, use of GPS generated data to produce calibration andcorrection factors for a pedometer-based speed and distance monitor willmake the pedometer data more accurate, particularly when the monitor isused under a variety of different conditions (e.g., at different speeds,under different wind or terrain conditions, etc.). In this manner, whenthe GPS system loses its signal and/or at any other appropriate ordesired times during the athletic performance when GPS output is notsampled, a relatively low cost pedometer may be relied upon toaccurately fill in the missing speed and distance data.

Additionally or alternatively, because accelerometer-based or otherpedometer-based speed and distance monitor systems typically do notrequire as much battery power as that required in obtaining a readingfrom a GPS-based system, the accelerometer-based or otherpedometer-based speed and distance monitor may be sampled morefrequently to save power. Additionally, data from accelerometer-based orother pedometer-based speed and distance monitors can be obtainedquickly and more often to thereby provide more “responsive”instantaneous speed change information to the user. Accelerometer-basedor other pedometer-based speed and distance monitors also can providesome information that is not available from a GPS-based system, such asstep count.

As still another example, in systems and methods according to at leastsome examples of the invention, it may be desirable to provide athleticperformance monitoring systems and methods that derive all “real time”speed and distance information (e.g., the information displayed to theathlete on the portable display device during the performance) from theaccelerometers or pedometers, and not using the GPS to provide the realtime information. In such systems, the GPS monitor may operateperiodically, in the background, e.g., logging position and altitudetracking point data in a memory. After the performance is completed(e.g., after the data relating to the performance is downloaded to thepersonal computer), the GPS data, optionally along with the data fromthe pedometer-based speed and distance monitor, may be used for analysis(optionally along with other map data, altitude data, and/or other inputinformation). In such systems, the GPS data may be sampled lessfrequently, thereby saving power, while still providing continuous andsufficiently accurate speed and distance information to the athlete inreal time from the accelerometer or other pedometer based system,because the accelerometer or other pedometer based system is notsusceptible to antenna or transmission/reception problems.

b. Combined GPS or Other Speed and Distance Monitors with BarometricPressure Sensors

Another example of a complementary grouping of sensors that may beincluded in a single system according to at least some examples of theinvention relates to the combined use of a GPS monitoring system (or anaccelerometer or pedometer based speed and distance monitor) with abarometric pressure sensor. While barometric pressure sensors candetermine barometric pressures at different locations (e.g., as anathlete moves) and/or pressure changes over time and/or over movement,and while such barometric pressures can be correlated to altitude, abarometric pressure sensor alone cannot distinguish between variouspotential sources of changes in pressure. For example, barometricpressure sensors cannot identify whether pressure changes occur due toweather and/or atmospheric condition changes, due to changes in useraltitudes, etc. While GPS systems, at least in some examples, providealtitude data, this altitude data typically may be somewhat inaccurate.Conventional GPS systems do not monitor weather.

Monitoring systems that include both GPS and barometric pressure sensorsmay allow more accurate determination of whether an experiencedbarometric pressure change is due to an altitude change or a weatherchange. For example, if the GPS system indicated that an athlete had notmoved or otherwise changed altitude, then the system could attribute allbarometric pressure change to weather-related changes (and optionallywarn the user of possible approaching weather changes). This combinedsystem would make weather predictions during an athletic performancemuch more accurate. The opposite effect also is true. A barometricpressure sensor based altimeter could provide much more accuratealtitude data if data from the GPS system (which has some altitudemeasurement capabilities) allowed the pressure sensor system todetermine pressure changes due to weather.

Moreover, currently available barometric pressure based altitude sensorsmust be calibrated. The use of such a sensor in combination with a GPSsystem, however, may eliminate the need for a user to perform thiscalibration. For example, altitude data from the GPS system could beused, when available or occasionally, to calibrate an altitudedetermined by a barometric pressure based altitude sensor. Additionallyor alternatively, using the distance of movement or altitude change datadetermined by a GPS system, calibration data or “zero drift” correctiondata for the barometric pressure sensor may be generated. Thecalibration data may be collected and/or used in the background, withoutactive interaction by the users. In these manners, the GPS data can helpzero the drift typically experienced by barometric pressure sensors andthereby make their output more accurate.

Complementary combinations of devices do not require GPS sensors, atleast not in all examples of the invention. Accelerometer-based or otherpedometer based speed and distance monitors also may be used incombination with barometric pressure sensors in a similar manner. Forexample, if the speed and distance monitor indicates that the user hasnot moved a significant distance (or at all), but a pressure change isdetected by the system, this pressure change may be attributed toweather changes and not altitude changes. Such information also may beused, in at least some instances, to correct or “zero” the drifttypically experienced by barometric pressure altitude sensors, therebymaking their output more accurate.

c. Combined GPS with Bicycle (or Other) Speedometers

Athletic performance monitoring systems and methods according toexamples of this invention are not limited to use with running orwalking type athletic performances (e.g., performances in which data maybe collected using a pedometer). Another example of a complementarygrouping of sensors that may be included in a single system or methodaccording to the invention relates to the combined use of a GPSmonitoring system with a conventional speedometer, such as one on abicycle. A conventional speedometer provides accurate speed and distancedata, but it does not provide altitude or absolute position information.A GPS system, on the other hand, provides speed, distance, altitude, andabsolute position information, but as described above, it occasionallysuffers outages due to loss of satellite signal, it consumes substantialbattery power, and the like. A combination of these systems may be usedto provide speed, distance, altitude, and position data, and thespeedometer may be relied upon to provide the athlete with speed anddistance information, e.g., when the GPS system is not getting a signal,etc. Additionally, if desired, the GPS system could be used sparingly orperiodically, to save battery power, and the speedometer system could beused constantly (or at least more frequently) to provide the athletewith real time speed and distance information. If desired, systems andmethods according to some examples of the invention may simply store allGPS data during the performance for later download, analysis, etc.

If desired, systems and methods according to this example combination ofthe invention also may use the GPS data to provide calibration dataand/or correction factors for use of the speedometer, optionally under avariety of different use conditions, e.g., like those described above,under different tire pressure conditions, different tire sizeconditions, etc.

d. Combined GPS, Speed and Distance Monitor, and Magnetic Compass

As mentioned above in conjunction with FIG. 1, any number of sensors maybe used in combination without departing from the invention. Anotherexample of a complementary grouping of sensors that may be included in asingle system or method according to the invention includes the combineduse of a GPS monitoring system, an accelerometer or otherpedometer-based speed and distance monitor, and a magnetic compass.

In conventional GPS systems, when the GPS receiver misses trackingpoints (e.g., because the receiver is blocked, power outage, etc.), thedata collected produces a straight line between the consecutively knownGPS sampling points irrespective of the actual direction that the GPSreceiver moved during this time period. By combining the data producedby an accelerometer or other pedometer-based speed and distance monitorwith data produced via a magnetic compass, systems and methods accordingto this example of the invention are able to more accurately determinethe absolute location of an athlete even when the GPS signal or data islost for any reason. Using the speed and distance monitor data and thecompass data, the system can continue to provide speed, distance, andheading data. Therefore, when/if the GPS receiver loses its signal (orif the signal is not taken at some times, e.g., due to power savingreasons), the athletic performance monitoring system and methodaccording to this example still can use the other sensors' output todetermine the changes in the athlete's position to fill in the “holes”and provide actual athlete path data until the GPS signal is regained orotherwise again sampled.

e. Combined Speed and Distance Monitor (from GPS, Accelerometer, orOther Pedometer), Altitude (from GPS, Barometer, or Map Data), and HeartRate Monitor

Another example of a combination of complementary sensors that may beused in athletic performance monitoring systems and methods according toat least some examples of the invention includes a combined altitudesensor (GPS or barometric pressure based), heart rate monitor, and speedand distance monitor (GPS, accelerometer, or other pedometer based).Currently available heart rate monitors display “real time” heart ratedata and may store at least some data in memory for future analysis.Some currently available systems additionally may store at least somespeed and/or distance data. One important missing piece of data isaltitude. Upon reviewing stored data, an athlete, trainer, or coach mayfind that the athlete's heart rate had risen and/or that his/her speedhad slowed, but currently they would not be able to determine from thestored data if these facts were the result of a physiological symptom,or if the athlete actually ascended a steep hill, or the like. Bycombining altitude data with heart rate and speed and distance data, anathlete, trainer, or coach can obtain a more complete picture of theathlete's workout regime and better ascertain the physical reasonsbehind changes in heart rate, pace, etc.

3. Example Software/Data Processing Aspects

Various aspects of systems and methods according to examples of thisinvention relate to features of software that may be used to operate thesystems, control the methods, and/or process the collected data.Although the discussion below focuses on data analysis using a personalcomputer and application programs stored or available on a personalcomputer, those skilled in the art will recognize that any or all ofthis analysis may take place on any suitable or desired device, such asdevices having a display, including cell phones, audio players (e.g.,MP3 players, cassette players, CD players, and the like), PDAs, watches,bike mounted displays, televisions, and the like.

Systems and methods according to examples of the invention that includea GPS monitor may use an automatic route recognition and loggingfeature. As described above, GPS systems are available to track variousposition or location waypoints of a GPS receiver along a route moved byan athlete during an athletic performance. After a workout, e.g., whenan athlete synchronizes the portable portions of the monitor system'shardware with the personal computer, if necessary, the GPS waypointsfrom the stored performance(s) are downloaded from the portable device'smemory to the personal computer (e.g., if desired, systems and methodsaccording to some examples of the invention may allow more than oneroute to be saved on the portable device (representing more than oneathletic performance) between downloads to the personal computer).Software on the personal computer may attempt to correlate the routesused during the performance(s) (e.g., the position or location pointdatasets) to previous routes stored on the personal computer, e.g., datarepresenting routes that have already been covered by the athlete (oranother), stored on the personal computer, and labeled.

As a more specific example, an athlete may run around a local lakeseveral times a week. The first time the athletic performance monitoringsystem according to this example of the invention is used on this “lakerun,” the collection of GPS tracking points that comprise the run willbe stored on the personal computer and may be labeled by the user, e.g.,“lake run.” The next time the athlete runs the “lake run” or another runusing the performance monitoring system, software on the personalcomputer will compare the waypoints of that run with waypoints on allthe stored routes on the personal computer to determine if there is amatch (e.g., it will attempt to find any close matches in the routes).The software then will appropriately label or catalog the most recentlyrun route(s) in the athlete's run log or calendar (optionally after theuser confirms that the correct route identification was assigned to therecently run route(s)). The software also will recognize any new routesor routes that fail to match routes in the existing library, and ask theuser to enter a name either from the existing route list or as a newroute for inclusion on the route list. Such systems and methods allowusers to quickly populate a run calendar or log with meaningful runnames for the various routes they use.

Another example software/data processing aspect of systems and methodsaccording to at least some examples of the invention relates to theability to add sensor data to the route concept generally describedabove. For example, systems and methods according to at least someexamples of the invention may allow users to incorporate physical orphysiological sensor data into a personal computer database thatincludes data relating to athletic performances, routes, and the like.Such physical or physiological data may include, for example: weathercondition data (temperature, pressure, precipitation, wind speed, winddirection, etc.); athlete speed data; time of day data; altitude data;split time data between landmarks or benchmarks; heart or pulse ratedata; body temperature data; blood pressure data; etc. After a route isrecognized (e.g., based on GPS data, user input data, etc.), systems andmethods according to examples of the invention may allow a user toeasily process, sort, and/or display any desired information relating tothat particular route, such as the best time on that route, fastest timeto a landmark, fastest split time, etc.

Such data may be stored in any suitable or desired form or format, e.g.,as a part of a conventional spreadsheet or other searchable and/orsortable form or format. Using at least some examples of such systemsand methods, users may take a collection of performances stored on apersonal computer (or on the portable device, if desired) and performdesired sorts, such as:

-   -   Fastest “lake runs” over 80 degrees outside temperature    -   Fastest “lake runs” before 9 am    -   Average “lake run” times when the average heart rate was over        150 during the first half    -   Fastest “lake run” when the time to run up “big hill in middle”        was less than 10 minutes

The availability of GPS data provides additional potential software/dataprocessing capabilities relating to route information for systems andmethods according to at least some examples of the invention. Forexample, based on GPS data and/or other data collected during theperformance (e.g., data relating to route distance, altitude, elevationchanges (e.g., hilliness), maximum elevation gains or changes, outdoortemperature, humidity, etc.), systems and methods according to at leastsome examples of the invention may assign a route “difficulty rating” tonew routes, e.g., as they are recognized as described above. Optionally,if desired, systems and methods according to examples of the inventionmay rank the difficulty of new routes, at least in part, based on ortaking into account the difficulty (or the data) associated withexisting routes in the athlete's log, a predetermined standard, theathlete's physiological data (e.g., heart or pulse rate) associated withthis route as compared to other routes, a user's subjective input,and/or any other suitable or desired basis. If desired, systems andmethods according to the invention could determine and display one ormore “difficulty ratings” for the various routes and/or for specificperformances on the routes, and optionally rank the difficulty of eachaspect (e.g., on a 1-10 scale, with 10 being most difficult). Examplerankings for a particular route might include: flatness=1; length=8;altitude=4; etc.

The stored route data also may be used by athletes, their coaches,and/or trainers in various ways before an athletic performance takesplace. For example, systems and methods according to at least someexamples of the invention may provide “route playlists” for the athleteprior to beginning a workout or training routine. Such systems andmethods further may allow user input regarding a desired workout ordifficulty level and then ascertain a route from the stored universe ofroutes previously input by the athlete (or others). For example, basedon user input requesting a specific difficulty level or some otherparameter (e.g., input including approximate route length, routelocation, route elevation changes (hilly, flat, etc.), etc.), systemsand methods according to examples of the invention could recommendroutes that match or most closely match the user's requested input. Aseven more specific examples, a user may input data requesting, forexample: a low difficulty 7 mile route, a flat 10 mile route, a 5 mileclose to downtown, a hilly run in Seattle, etc.).

The universe or library of routes on a route “playlist” need not belimited to routes previously covered by a single athlete. For example,in at least some systems and methods according to the invention, datafrom routes used by a plurality of users may be combined in theavailable universe of routes, and systems and methods may select one ormore potential routes for a user based on the user's requested inputfrom this larger available universe of routes. As an example, a computernetwork, such as the Internet or the World Wide Web may be used to storea large universe of potential routes input from a plurality of users.Such systems and methods may be used, for example, to suggest new routesto users, such as routes for use during travel, etc. If desired, systemsand methods according to at least some examples of the invention mayprovide maps, directions, and/or other more detailed route informationto the user, e.g., before the performance and/or in real time as theindividual is covering the route (e.g., on the portable display device).As an additional example, systems and methods according to the inventionmay devise routes that meet a user's input requests based on map data orinformation as opposed to selecting routes only from previousperformances.

Additionally, systems and methods according to the invention may be usedto compare input data associated with an individual athlete and fromthis data ascertain the athlete's “preferences.” For example, systemsand methods according to examples of the invention may determine that anindividual likes to run about 6 miles during the week, that he/she buttakes longer runs (e.g., about 10 miles) on weekends. Systems andmethods also may determine typical altitude changes associated with anindividual athlete's typical workouts (e.g., hilly vs. flat). As stillanother example, from map or GPS data, systems and methods according toat least some examples may determine other characteristics about theterrain associated with a typical workout (e.g., around water, in apark, through a woods, etc.). From this “preference” data orinformation, systems and methods according to at least some examples ofthe invention also may suggest new (or previously used) routes to anathlete, e.g., from a “playlist” or universe of routes at or near theathlete's location. Such information may conveniently be used duringtravel to locate a route having an athlete's preferred and/or familiarcharacteristics.

As another example, from input data relating to an individual's pastperformances, systems and methods according to at least some examples ofthe invention may automatically make recommendations for routes, otherworkout programs, or characteristics of a workout program for anindividual. For example, systems and methods according to some examplesof the invention may note that an individual has had several hardworkout days in a row (e.g., based on total miles, heart ratemeasurements, altitude data, etc.). From that data, an appropriatefuture workout plan may be suggested by the system (e.g., includingroutes, desired activities, target times, etc.). Any desired algorithmmay be used in determining when a system and/or method according to theinvention may be triggered to suggest a new or different route orworkout plan. Such systems and methods may be useful as tools to helpprevent injury and/or over-training.

4. Multi-Media Aspects Using Sensor Input

Additional aspects available in at least some examples of systems andmethods according to the invention involve media playback devices thatuse input provided from one or more of a GPS monitor, physicalmonitor(s), and/or physiological monitor(s) to, at least in part,determine the content of printed, audio, and/or video output provided tothe user during an athletic performance Any type of printed, audio,and/or video display device may be used in this aspect of the invention,such as MP3 players, video devices, audio devices, cell phones, PDAs,beepers, pagers, and the like. In at least some examples of theinvention, this printed, audio, and/or video display device will formthe portable/wearable display 110 described above in conjunction withFIG. 1.

As one more specific example, systems and methods according to at leastsome examples of the invention may use output from one or more of thesensors (such as an accelerometer, GPS monitor, altimeter, barometer,etc.) to change media playback speed in proportion to athleteperformance data, such as athlete movement speed. For example, the songbeat may be selected or adjusted to synchronize with the user's movementspeed (e.g., the song beat may be selected or adjusted to match theuser's step beat). In some instances, the beat of the song may be spedup or slowed down, as necessary, to match (or substantially match) theuser's step beat. In other examples, systems and methods according toexamples of the invention may select a song from a playlist having abeat that matches (or substantially matches) the user's step beat. Anydesired way of synchronizing the song and step beats and/or otherwiseselecting a song having the desired beat may be used without departingfrom the invention.

As another example, using map data, historical altitude information,barometric information, or GPS information, an audio or video playerassociated with systems and methods according to the invention may beprogrammed or receive input to produce a “motivational” song or videoclip when a hill or other difficult portion of the route is encountered.As still additional examples, songs or video clips (or other audio/videooutput) may be selected from a playlist based on one or more factorsassociated with the athletic performance, such as time or distance outon the route, the type of terrain encountered, elevation or altitude,and the like. In some example systems and methods, a user may categorizecertain songs (or other audio/video data) within a playlist or a libraryas “uphill songs,” “fast pace songs,” “easy slow pace songs,” and soforth, and then when the athletic performance is taking place, thesystem and method may select appropriate songs (or other audio/videodata) from the categorized playlist based on real time sensor input.

Another example aspect of the invention relates to use of systems andmethods to provide audio and/or video playback based on location along aroute. Such systems and methods may use GPS location coordinates (orother location data) to select an audio and/or video selection based onproximity to a specific location. In at least some examples of suchsystems and methods, users may program, in advance, specific songs orplaylists associated with a specific location. For example, assume anathlete runs a specific route three times a week. The athlete couldprogram an audio and/or video device associated with systems and methodsaccording to the invention (e.g., systems equipped with GPS) to playspecific songs and/or video clips from a specific playlist every time heor she gets to a specific location, e.g., every time he or she gets tothe north end of the lake, to a specific intersection, in front of aspecific building, to the top of a stairway, or the like. As stillanother example, systems and methods according to at least some examplesof the invention may provide historical, tourist, or other interestinginformation to the user along the route, e.g., depending on the locationalong the route. Such systems may be particularly interesting and usefulto users while traveling.

Any suitable or desired sensor outputs and/or user actions may be reliedupon to control or modify audio and/or video output, e.g., to triggersongs or video clips from playlists, without departing from aspects ofthe invention. For example, systems and methods according to at leastsome examples of the invention may be programmed to play slow orrelaxing songs or video displays under certain conditions, e.g., if theathlete's heart rate or pulse rate exceeds 150 beats per minute, to cuethe athlete to relax or reduce speed. As another example, if proximityto the end of a route or race is determined (e.g., using GPS, odometer,or pedometer information), an up-tempo song and/or video clip may beprovided to cue the athlete to strive for a finish strong. As stillanother example, time into the athletic performance may be used totrigger selected audio and/or video output. For example, if an athletehas been running for more than two hours, systems and methods accordingto aspects of the invention may be programmed to select one or moresongs (or other data) for playback from a “motivational” playlist thatthe athlete selected or purchased in advance (or, optionally, from aplaylist maintained by the system or method without user input).

The audio and/or video output is not limited to commercially or publiclyavailable songs, video clips, and the like. Rather, systems and methodsaccording to the invention can play back or display any desired audio,video, and/or printed information without departing from the invention.For example, systems and methods according to the invention may beprovided with a series of pre-recorded messages or other feedbackresponses that they provide based on sensor output and triggers.Optionally, the audio and/or video data may be user recorded and/ordownloaded to the systems or methods from other sources. Examplemessages might include: “water station ahead;” “end of race 1 mileahead,” “nearing a first aid station,” a message from a coach ortrainer, and the like. A GPS sensor could trigger these messages atappropriate times (and optionally, if desired, provide map or directioninformation to help the athlete find the noted landmark or benchmarklocation). In one implementation, messages of this type may be recordedin MP3 format and played like any other song according to sensortriggers as described above.

Various other information and feedback may be provided in accordancewith examples of the invention. For example, systems and methods inaccordance with some examples of the invention may provide audio,visual, beeping, or other information when a physical or physiologicalcondition (such as heart rate) falls above or below a preselectedparameter or range. As still another example, safety or otherinformation may be provided, e.g., to advise the user of approachingcurves; terrain changes; excessive speed for approaching terrain, slope,or other conditions (e.g., if a biker approaches a curve too quickly);bicycle gearing information (e.g., suggested gears for speed, slope, orother approaching conditions; to meet goals; etc.); and the like. Ifnecessary for sensing a desired parameter, the user's body, the bicycle,or other equipment may be equipped with appropriate sensors to providethe desired physical and/or physiological data.

The feedback provided to users is not limited to audio, video, orprinted information.

For example, if desired, vibrational or other tactile feedback may beprovided to the user, e.g., through vibration or other elements providedin the measuring device, in footwear, in clothing, or the like. Suchvibrational or other feedback devices may be programmed to provideoutput to the user whenever desired, such as whenever certain physicalor physiological conditions exist or are measured.

Another option available in accordance with at least some examplesystems and methods according to the invention involves the use ofwireless, “hands free,” or other non-contacting controls of the system(such as the audio, video, and/or other display or feedback devices).For example, a hand or arm mounted accelerometer (e.g., on a bracelet,ring, or the like) may be used to activate, control volume, changechannels or stations, or otherwise change the operational mode of anaudio or video display device carried by the athlete during athleticperformances. By waving a hand or arm (or through some other appropriateaction), output from an arm or hand mounted accelerometer (or othermovement sensing or similar device) may be used to activate and/orcontrol audio, video, or other display or feedback devices. Eliminatingthe need for “hands on” control (e.g., to activate, change volume,change channels, change modes, etc.) can be useful to athletes duringathletic performances to avoid diverting their attention andconcentration from the performance and to avoid the need to locate andmanipulate small controls typically associated with small electronicdevices. As another example, if desired, voice or other audio commandsmay be used to control audio, video, or other display or feedbackdevices in a “hands free” manner.

5. Example Data Processing, Display, and Visualization

Additional aspects of the invention relate to post-performance analysisand processing including analysis and processing of performance datacollected during an athletic performance. Additionally, aspects of theinvention relate to the display and/or visualization used in at leastsome example aspects of systems and methods according to the invention.While any type of sensor data and/or combinations of sensor data may beprovided on visual displays without departing from the invention, andwhile the input data may be analyzed and processed in any desired waywithout departing from the invention, various specific examples ofprocessing and data displays are described in more detail below. Thoseskilled in the art will appreciate that these more specific descriptionsare merely examples of suitable processing, analysis, and displaysuseful in accordance with the invention. Moreover, those skilled in theart will appreciate that all of the displays described below may beprovided as part of any suitable or desired display arrangement orsystem, including displays on portable and non-portable devices, such asdisplay devices for personal computers, cell phones, PDAs, music orvideo players, bike mounted displays, and the like.

a. Two-Dimensional Graphic Displays

FIG. 2 illustrates an example display or screenshot 200 that may providedata and information to athletes, their coaches, and/or their trainersin accordance with at least some examples of this invention. Thisscreenshot 200 may be provided as part of any suitable displayarrangement or system, such as from a personal computer, a cell phonedisplay, a PDA device, a music or video player, a bike mounted display,or any other portable or desired device.

The physical and/or physiological sensors required to produce the graphsin the display 200 illustrated in FIG. 2 include: (a) a distance, clock,and/or timing sensor; (b) a heart rate monitor (for the heart rate v.distance data); (c) a speed and/or distance measuring device (e.g.,accelerometer or pedometer based or GPS based); and (d) a source ofaltitude information (e.g., GPS based, barometric pressure sensor based,topographic map data based, etc.). As some more specific examples, thesystem may include only a GPS monitor and a heart rate monitor, or itmay include a combination of a heart rate monitor, anaccelerometer-based or other pedometer-based speed and distance monitor,and a barometric pressure altitude sensor.

Any number of screens or displays may be generated to provide thedesired data and information to users without departing from theinvention. Optionally, in at least some examples, including the exampleshown in FIG. 2, a single screen will provide data and informationrelating to a variety of parameters. For example, the screenshot 200 ofFIG. 2 simultaneously displays: (a) heart rate v. distance (or time)data (curve 202); (b) power v. distance (or time) data (curve 204); (c)speed v. distance (or time) data (curve 206); and (d) altitude v.distance (or time) data (curve 208). In the illustrated example,distance (or time) is charted along one of the coordinate axes (e.g., inmiles along the horizontal axis 210), and one or more of the otherdesired parameters may be charted along other coordinate axes.

Optionally, individual displays of any of the desired data collectionsor parameters may be activated and/or inactivated in any suitablemanner. For example, at the time specifically illustrated in FIG. 2, theleft vertical coordinate axis 212 is charted for altitude data and theright vertical coordinate axis 214 is charted for speed data (e.g., inminutes/mile, miles per hour, kilometers per hour, etc.). The displayeddata may be changed in any desired manner, for example, by activatingone of the presently non-activated software radio buttons 216 or 218, toactively display the coordinate axes for heart rate or power,respectively (radio buttons 220 and 222 for speed and altitude,respectively, are shown in broken lines in FIG. 2 to indicate that theY-coordinate axes corresponding to these buttons are being activelydisplayed).

As another potential option, axes and/or coordinate labels for all ofthe parameters (e.g., heart rate, power, speed, and altitude in thisexample) may be displayed simultaneously at all times, rather than usinga switchable display, without departing from the invention. As stillanother example, a drop down menu, tool bar item or menu, right mousebutton clicks, or the like, may be used to enable switching betweendifferent displayed data sets and/or coordinate axes without departingfrom the invention. Any manner of switching the display 200 to providethe other potential data, axes, or parameters may be used withoutdeparting from the invention.

b. Two-Dimensional Display with Map Data

FIG. 3 illustrates another example of processing and/or display ofathletic performance data in systems and methods according to at leastsome examples of the invention. In this example, the screenshot ordisplay 300 provides at least some of the data relating to the athleticperformance superimposed over (or otherwise provided on) two dimensionalmap data corresponding to the location at which the athletic performancetook place. Of course, data relating to multiple athletic performancesmay be simultaneously displayed or otherwise made available in thedisplay of screenshot 300 without departing from the invention. Thegeneral underlying map data of this type is known and publicly availableto those skilled in the art.

For the display 300 illustrated in FIG. 3, the sensors or monitors usedto produce the display 300 include: (a) a distance, clock, and/or timingsensor; (b) a heart rate monitor (for the heart rate data); (c) a speedand/or distance measuring device (e.g., accelerometer or pedometer basedor GPS based); (d) a source of altitude information (e.g., GPS based,barometric pressure sensor based, topographic map data based, etc.); and(e) a source of directional information (e.g., compass, GPS, etc.). Anycombination of monitors or devices may be used to provide the datawithout departing from the invention.

This example display 300 includes at least three general regions ofinterest. First, the map display region 302 displays the route 304covered during the athletic performance superimposed (or otherwiseprovided on) a conventional map. This display region 302 (or other areaon the display 300) further may include a clock or timer 306 thatdisplays any desired time information, such as the actual current time,the time of day corresponding to the time when the athlete was at thelocation of the cursor or icon 308 on the map, the elapsed time into theathletic performance, etc. Of course, other information may be includedin the map display region 302, if desired, without departing from theinvention, such as map scale data, multiple timers 306, multiple icons(representing multiple performances), multiple routes, etc.

The display 300 further includes performance data display region 310.This region 310 includes “gauge-type” displays that simultaneouslydisplay data relating to various physiological and/or physicalparameters associated with the athletic performance. For example,display region 310 displays “gauges” corresponding to the athlete'smeasured heart rate, power output, speed, and direction (or “heading”).While not illustrated in FIG. 3, the gauges provided in display region310 may include numerical markings (or other suitable markings) toprovide measured data information to the user. Of course, any desiredway of displaying the performance data may be used without departingfrom the invention. As another example, one or more scales, numericaldisplays, or digital gauges (e.g., displays or gauges that include themeasured data) may appear in display region 310, wherein the datadisplayed by the display, gauges, or the like correspond to datacollected at a location of the computer's cursor or input device withinthe display region 302. As still another example, full time digitaldisplays or digital gauges may be provided rather than the analog gaugedisplays illustrated in FIG. 3. Any desired way of displaying theperformance measured physiological and/or physical data may be usedwithout departing from the invention.

In at least some instances and/or in some modes of operation, the datadisplayed via the gauges of display region 310 will correspond to thedata as measured at the location of icon 308 in the map display region302. If no data is available for the location exactly corresponding tothe icon 308 location, systems and methods according to examples of theinvention may handle this situation in any suitable or desired mannerwithout departing from the invention. For example, the specific gauge orgauges in gauge display region 310 may be left blank or display no data,they may display the available data from the closest available location,they may display data from the closest available location provided thatthis location is within a predetermined time or distance of the icon 308location, etc. Of course, if desired, the various gauges or displays maybe selectively turned on or off by the user, e.g., using radio buttons,toolbar menus, drop down menus, right clicks, etc. Also, a user may begiven choices into which parameters are to be displayed in region 310,if desired.

Display 300 further includes a two-dimensional graph region 312 thatdisplays data associated with the athletic performance against distance(or time) during the performance. While any measured parameter or set ofparameters may be displayed in region 312, the illustrated example showsaltitude displayed as a function of distance along the route.Optionally, systems and methods according to at least some examples ofthe invention may allow switching between various different andavailable parameters, e.g., periodically over time, based on apredetermined algorithm, based on user input, based on instantaneoususer selection, etc.). The location of the icon 308 in the map displayregion 302 is marked in the two-dimensional graph region 312 using baricon 314, although any desired marking (or no marking at all) may beused without departing from the invention. As another example, thehorizontal scale 316 of two-dimensional display region 312 may match thescale and location of map region 302 such that the data as you movehorizontally across two-dimensional display region 312 matches the Xcoordinate location in the map region 302 (because the route 304overlaps in the X coordinate direction (e.g., it is a round trip in thisexample), the two-dimensional region 312 may provide access to theappropriate data corresponding to each time that the athlete crossed theparticular X-coordinate point on the map data without departing from theinvention e.g., via different graphs, via different colors, viadifferent display regions 312, etc.).

As another example feature, systems and methods according to at leastsome examples of the invention allow users to manually place the icon308 at any position along the route 304, and the system willautomatically display data relating to that position, such as: (a) thetime along the route 304 (e.g., at clock 306); (b) the distance alongthe route 304 (e.g., using bar icon 314 and horizontal scale 316); (c)physical and/or physiological data associated with that location (e.g.,in regions 310 and/or 312); etc. In such examples, when the cursor oricon 308 is placed at a specific location along the route 304, thevarious data displays (e.g., the time, distance, physical, and/orphysiological data noted above) can quickly “snap” to the correspondingdata for that location. As another example, simply moving the mousecursor or other input device over a portion of the route 304 (e.g.,without clicking the mouse button to move the icon 308) may, at leasttemporarily, cause data for that location to be displayed.

As still another example feature, data relating to the athleticperformance (e.g., the time, distance, physical, and/or physiologicaldata noted above) may be displayed and changed to correspond to thevarious positions along the map route 304 as the icon 308 automaticallymoves and follows the route 304, e.g., in animation. For example,activating the “play” button 318 may be used to cause the icon 308 tomove along the route 304 (e.g., in real time, in an accelerated manner,in a slowed manner, in a combination of different manners, etc.), whilethe data actually measured during the performance is displayed andchanges along with the changing position of the icon 308. In effect, theicon 308 on the map region 302 becomes a “virtual runner” Additionally,the icon bar 314 in the two-dimensional display region 312 may be usedto show the virtual runner's progress on this display region 312 (e.g.,by moving the icon bar 314 along the altitude graph in the illustratedexample).

Of course, those skilled in the art will understand that many variationsand changes may be made to the specific information displayed, the formor format of its display, and the like, without departing from theinvention.

c. Three-Dimensional Display with Route and Other Performance Data

FIG. 4 illustrates another example of processing and/or display ofathletic performance data in systems and methods according to at leastsome examples of the invention. In this example, the screenshot ordisplay 400 provides a graphical representation of the route 402 with atleast relative altitude information provided via a three-dimensionaltopographical display of the route 402, which at least generally showselevation changes along the route 402. To provide the raw data forbuilding a display like display 400 shown in FIG. 4, the athleticperformance monitoring system monitors and/or provides periodic (andfrequent) data regarding the athlete's absolute position and altitudeversus time (or distance), e.g., via a GPS monitor or other appropriatesystems. In at least some examples, a three-dimensional view of theroute 402 as shown in display 400 of FIG. 4 may be “built” or determinedby a computer system by taking the intersection of the route taken withtopographical data corresponding to the location along the route 402(e.g., from topographical map data, altitude sensors, GPS data, etc.).

Three-dimensional route displays 400, like that illustrated in FIG. 4,are not limited to simply providing general route and topographicaldata. Rather, additional information relating to the athleticperformance may be incorporated into the topographical orthree-dimensional route 402. Any of the measured athletic performancedata may be included in the display 400 without departing from theinvention, such as the measured time, distance, physical, and/orphysiological data described above. As one more specific example, thethree-dimensional route 402 may be color coded, hatched, or otherwisemarked in the display 400 to illustrate the changes in the measuredparameters over the route 402 during an athletic performance. FIG. 4shows four available measured parameters associated with the athleticperformance represented by the route 402 on the display 400.Specifically, software radio buttons 404, 406, 408, and 410 are providedto allow the user to switch the displayed color coded data on the route402 between the various measured parameters available for display (e.g.,to switch between altitude, heart rate, speed, and cadence in theillustrated example). By selecting different data sets (by activatingone of the radio buttons 404, 406, 408, or 410), the color (or anothercharacteristic) of the route 402 will change to correspond to themeasured parameter relating to the athletic performance or other data(if any is available) at that location. For example, if a user were toclick the heart rate radio button 406, the top surface of the route 402will change colors (or other characteristics), based on the key 406 a,to indicate the athlete's measured heart rate at that specific location.For example, the surface of route 402 may be yellow when the athlete'sheart rate exceeded 170 beats per minute (“bpm”) during the athleticperformance, red when in the 150-170 bpm range, green in the 120-150 bpmrange, and blue when below 120 bpm, and these standards may be providedto the user in key 406 a (other keys 404 a, 408 a, and 410 a areprovided for the other displayable parameters). User selection ofanother radio button 404, 408, or 410 will automatically change theroute color, where necessary, to correspond to the data for thatmeasured parameter.

If desired, an icon 412 may be provided along the route 402, and datarelating to the athletic performance, e.g., the measured time, distance,physical, and/or physiological data, may be played back in an “animated”manner as described above in conjunction with FIG. 3 (e.g., byactivating the “play” button 414, etc.).

Those skilled in the art will recognize, of course, that many variationsin this type of display 400 are possible without departing from theinvention. For example, other ways of switching between displays of thedifferent parameters may be used without departing from the invention,such as through the use of drop down menus, other menus, tool bar items,right mouse button clicks, and the like. As another optional example, ifdesired, more than one parameter may be displayed at a time on the route402 (e.g., by color coding plural vertical layers along the route,providing additional analog or digital gauges, etc.). As still anotherexample, the display 400 may be set up to periodically and/orautomatically switch the parameter(s) being display. Many other displayalternatives or options are available without departing from theinvention.

d. Topographical Map Display with Route and Other Performance Data

FIG. 5 illustrates another example of processing and/or display ofathletic performance data in systems and methods according to at leastsome examples of the invention. This example, in at least some respects,comprises a conceptual combination of the displays illustrated in FIGS.3 and 4 to provide a three dimensional elevational model orrepresentation of the athlete's route. More specifically, the screenshotor display 500 in FIG. 5 provides a three-dimensional or topographicalmap 502 as a background, and the route 504 used during the athleticperformance (or during multiple performances) is superimposed on (orotherwise provided on) the map data from data collected during theathletic performance (e.g., from GPS collected data).

The display 500 further includes performance data display region 506.This region 506, like region 310 described above in conjunction withFIG. 3, may include “gauge-type” displays that simultaneously displayvarious measured physiological and/or physical parameters associatedwith the athletic performance. For example, display region 506 displays“gauges” corresponding to the athlete's measured heart rate, poweroutput, speed, and altitude. This display region 506 may take on avariety of different forms and formats and provide a variety ofdifferent information, e.g., like the forms, formats, and/or informationprovided in region 310 described above in conjunction with FIG. 3.

Also, as described above in conjunction with FIG. 3, the display region506 of FIG. 5 may be used to display data associated with the athleticperformance at the location of an icon 508 provided along the route 504.The location of the icon 508 along the route 504 may be changed in anydesired manner without departing from the invention, and the datadisplayed, e.g., in display region 506, will correspond to the datameasured at or near the location of the icon 508 along the route 504. Asexamples, in the manner described above in more detail in conjunctionwith FIG. 3, a user may selectively place the icon 508 at places alongthe route 504 (e.g., using a mouse or other input device), an“animation” procedure may be used to automatically move the icon 508along the route 504 (e.g., by activating play button 510), etc.

The display 500 of FIG. 5 shows some additional features that may beincluded in systems and methods according to at least some examples ofthe invention (including any of the various displays, systems, and/ormethods described above and below). Specifically, this example display500 includes a tool bar region 512 that allows easy access to variousfunctions associated with the display, system, and/or method. Asexamples, the tool bar region 512 may provide various features thatcorrespond to tools provided with conventional map and/orthree-dimensional computer-aided design (“CAD”) application programs. Asmore specific examples, the displayed map form and format may bemanipulated by the user by using scaling, zooming, spinning, androtating tools through tool bar region 512. Such functions areconventionally available, e.g., in the map and CAD arts.

Of course, any desired data and/or information may be included in thedisplay 500 without departing from the invention. In the illustratedexample, the sensors and/or monitors required to produce the display 500include: a heart rate monitor (for the heart rate v. time, distance, orlocation data); a position measuring device (e.g., GPS, accelerometer orother pedometer based system); and a source of altitude information(e.g., GPS, barometric pressure sensor, topographic map data, etc). Asone more specific example that uses GPS data, upon download of the GPSroute points for the athletic performance, the application software maybe adapted to further download relevant topographical map data to coverthe area of the route 504, optionally with a some additional data (e.g.,a half mile surrounding the route 504 perimeter), from any suitable mapdata source, such as a CD, a hard disk, or the internet (or othernetwork), including from conventional and/or commercial sources. Becausethe complete athletic performance is bounded by the measured GPScoordinates, systems and methods according to examples of the inventionwill be able to locate and/or download the relevant map area data.

The topographical map data then may be used to build a three dimensionalmodel of the terrain. The route 504 taken over this terrain then isoverlaid or superimposed on the map in a visible color. Additionally, ifdesired, as illustrated in conjunction with FIG. 4, multiple colors maybe used on the surface of the route 504 to indicate various time,distance, physical, and/or physiological parameters associated with thelocations along the route 504, such as specific speed zones, heart ratezones, intensity levels, power levels, and so forth.

Additional or alternative data may be included in the map representation500, if desired, without departing from the invention. For example,information specific to a particular athletic event or performance alsomay be included on the map data from any desired source, such asadditional map sources (e.g., texture maps), satellite photos, sportspecific photography or images, etc. As a more specific example, for along race or event (such as a marathon, bicycle race, triathlon, roadrally, etc.), a race specific map may be used to provide at least someof the map region 502 such that data associated with the race or otherevent, e.g., aid stations, start/finish line, and/or other information,also is included in the route map region 502.

Of course, the display 500 of FIG. 5 (as well as the various otherexample displays described above and below) need not be limited to thoseavailable for use on a personal computer. Such displays may be providedat any suitable or desired location and/or as part of any suitable ordesired device without departing from the invention, such as on a cellphone, a PDA, an audio or video player, a bike mounted display, otherportable devices, and the like. If desired, the type of map datadescribed above, including event specific map data, may be provided tothe athlete prior to and/or during the athletic event, for use duringthe event (e.g., downloaded to the portable device used by the athlete,received via satellite or other connection during the event, etc.).

e. Event Playback

FIG. 6 illustrates another example of processing and/or display ofathletic performance data in systems and methods according to at leastsome examples of the invention. This example system and method includesvisualization of one or more previously recorded athletic performanceson a display 600 with animated event “playback” characteristics. Whileany background may be provided without departing from the invention,such as map data, topographical map data, and the like, in theillustrated example the background 602 provides an animated view of theactual terrain involved in the performance. As examples, in the eventplayback mode, a user can select a playback speed, hit a “play” button604, and then watch a “virtual” athlete 606 recreate the event on thebackground terrain or map 602. During the playback, there may beindicators 608 (e.g., like those shown in FIGS. 3 and 5 or other desiredindicators) showing the instantaneous values of various measured time,distance, physical, and/or physiological parameters associated with theathletic performance at locations along the route traveled by thevirtual athlete 606.

The illustrated display 600 shows two virtual athletes 606 and 610 onthe same (or approximately the same) course or route. The second virtualathlete 610 may represent the same individual and correspond to dataassociated with two different performances on the same (or similarlylocated) route. As another alternative, the second virtual athlete 610may represent a different individual from the first virtual athlete 606,and the two displayed events may represent the two athlete'shead-to-head competition in a single event or their individual effortson the same course staggered or otherwise at different times. A secondindicator display region 612 also may be provided to displayinstantaneous values of various measured time, distance, physical,and/or physiological parameters associated with the second virtualathlete 610′s athletic performance at locations along the route. Ofcourse, the data for the two athletic performances may be obtained fromany source(s) without departing from the invention. Additionally, usersmay independently animate the action from each virtual athlete 606 and610 (e.g., by separately activating “play” buttons 604 and 614 in theillustrated example or taking other appropriate action), or the virtualathletes 606 and 610 may be activated simultaneously and virtually“race” one another (e.g., by activating the “play all” button 616 in theillustrated example, or taking other appropriate action).

In the specific example illustrated in FIG. 6, a key area 618 identifiesthe displayed performances. In the illustrated example, the key area 618indicates that the display 600 includes data from an individual athletethat had completed the same route or course twice. In the illustratedexample, the two athletic performances were about one year apart. Usingsystems and methods according to this example of the invention, bothperformances may be played back simultaneously (or side-by-side orconsecutively (optionally in a stepped fashion)) on a single terrainmap. In this manner, the user (e.g., the athlete, coach, and/or trainer)will be able to see the progress and physical parameters of eachperformance, side-by-side, as the virtual “race” or performancesprogress. Such comparative data may provide valuable information as tohow an athlete's conditioning has changed over time and help determinewhat changes may be needed to help the athlete reach his/her goals. Asanother example, a user may use this display to compare his/herperformance on the same course to another, such as a professionalathlete, to gauge how well one might perform against the professional orother athlete.

Of course, if desired, more than two virtual athletes may be provided inan individual display 600 without departing from the invention. Also,any way of providing and/or displaying the time, distance, physical,and/or physiological data to the user may be provided without departingfrom the invention, including but not limited to the various specificexamples discussed above in conjunction with FIGS. 2-5. Furthermore, ifdesired, the ability to simultaneously display data relating to two ormore independent athletic performances may be applied to any of thevarious systems and methods described above.

Again, the display features and options described above need not belimited solely to post-performance analysis. In at least some examplesystems and methods according to the invention, a portable device thatplays this type of animation (e.g., in real time) during an athleticperformance may be useful to the athlete participating in the event. Forexample, a cyclist may work with a coach or trainer to plan a racestrategy (pace, effort level, etc). Such a plan or strategy may be basedon a past performance by the athlete (or another) over the same route.To use this information during the event, the cyclist may have a“PDA-type” device mounted on his handlebar, to shows him the terrainahead, where he should be to meet his plan or goal, to compare him withan “ideal” or “model” performance, to compare with an elite athlete'sperformance, etc. Such a system and method also may show the athlete thelocation of one or more competitors, e.g., if the system and method arecapable of receiving wireless data (e.g., a cell link, satellite link,etc.). In this manner, the athlete may use this device to monitor andaccess the overall race and/or his standing with respect to one or moreof the other racers. Wireless links with devices of this type also couldprovide data (e.g., time, distance, location, physical parameters,physiological parameters, etc.) during the event to the athlete's coachor trainer, third parties (e.g., the media), etc.

f. “Fly-by” Animation

Additional aspects included in at least some example systems and methodsaccording to the invention involve “fly-by” animation. Such systems andmethods may utilize data displays of the type described above, such asdisplays including three-dimensional map or terrain data. In the exampleof the invention described above in conjunction with FIG. 6, an event orathletic performance was played back for the user, but in those systemsand methods the user's point of view was fixed and stationary. The“fly-by” animations in accordance with the present aspects and examplesof the invention allow users to move their viewpoint (e.g., the camera'seye view) to follow the playback of a performance in the manner thatthey choose.

In at least some examples, this concept involves the user's viewpointfollowing a virtual athlete on the computer display during the course ofan athletic performance playback. The effect may be considered to besimilar to following an athlete in a helicopter during an athleticperformance. The user could pick viewpoint camera angles and the“height” above the terrain for the visualization. For example, userscould simulate a 100 ft fly-by, a 500 ft fly-by, a 1000 ft fly-by, etc.If desired, in at least some systems and methods, the same fly-bysimulations could be performed without virtual runners, e.g., to allowathletes, their coaches, and/or trainers to view the animated depictionof the course, for the purpose of devising a performance plan orstrategy for the athlete.

Currently, “freeware” versions of “fly-by” software are known andavailable that allow one to perform a simulated flight over terrain. Atleast some examples of the invention additionally allow depiction of anathletic performance to be included in the fly-by, optionallyadditionally including timing, distance, physical, and/or physiologicaldata relating to the performance. Moreover, the fly-by depiction may betimed to move so as to follow and/or track one (or more) of the virtualathletes. If desired, data corresponding to several different athletesor the same athlete at different times on the same course may be playedback at the same time during the fly-by (e.g., as described above inconjunction with FIG. 6). For example, assume that five athletescompeted in a long race having a staggered start (e.g., a marathon, abicycle race, a ski race, etc.) with GPS equipped hardware, physicaland/or physiological sensors, as described above. After the event (orbetween individual stages), data relating to their performance may bedownloaded to a host computer with application software. A re-enactmentof the race or stage then may be played back with all five athletescompeting on the same virtual terrain/topographical map of the racecourse, at the same starting time, etc. The data may be played back atmultiple speeds and viewed from multiple camera angles or fly-byviewpoints. Instantaneous heart rate data, speeds, and the like may bedisplayed on the screen for each athlete during the simulation forcomparison purposes.

Additionally or alternatively, “fly-by” videos of sporting events (e.g.,marathon courses, golf courses, cycling courses, triathlon courses,etc.) may be produced and made available to athletes or teams before theevent. Users could use these “fly-by” videos and follow a virtualathlete through a topographical representation of the entire race. Waterstations, hills, first aid stations, and so forth could be visualized onthe topographical representation on the video. This information may beused to assist athletes, trainers, and/or their coaches in developing aplan or strategy for the event. Similarly, a portable device may be usedto play back this information during the race, e.g., to inform theathlete of the approaching terrain, landmarks, and/or other information.

6. GPS-Assisted Pace Adjustment and Feedback

Additional aspects included in at least some systems and methodsaccording to the invention relate to the use of GPS data prior to and/orduring an athletic event or performance to assist in pace adjustment.Presently, athletes, their coaches, and/or their trainers may manuallydetermine target split times for a race or route (e.g., times to alandmark, benchmark, specific distances, etc.), and these split timesmay be adjusted to account for the specific terrain on the route. Forexample, prior to running a marathon, one may have a predeterminedtarget finishing time, and they then may develop a race plan that giveseach mile split time, adjusted for uphill and/or downhill terrainvariations, time during the race, etc. Typically, these split times willbe printed on a bracelet worn on the athlete's wrist during the race.

Various aspects of the invention may improve on this known technique.For example, after running (or otherwise covering) any route with a GPSmonitor in an athletic performance monitoring system and methodaccording to examples of this invention (or otherwise obtaining datarelating to the route, e.g., from different data sources, differentsensors, etc.), an athlete, trainer, or coach may use that data inconjunction with a computer (or other processing device) toautomatically generate their own virtual version of the route and/or usethis data to develop an adjusted race plan for the route. For example,after providing the necessary route data for the system and method(e.g., by running or otherwise moving over the course with the GPSmonitor system and/or other portions of an athletic performancemonitoring system according to the invention), the tracking points maybe downloaded to a computer. Then, upon supplying a target completiontime for the same route, the software would provide route adjusted splittimes for each mile and/or other segment distances, optionally takinginto account the elevational changes over the route, prevailing winddirections, wind speed, and/or other factors that may influence thedifficulty of one portion of the course versus another. Such systems andmethods also could calculate target split times to reach specific courselandmarks, like aid stations, the halfway point, the bridge, and soforth. Optionally, such systems and methods may be operated shortlybefore the race begins, to enable incorporation of the local conditionsat the time of the race (e.g., wind speed, direction, etc.). Any desiredalgorithm may be used to determine appropriate split times from a targetoverall time without departing from the invention.

In at least some examples of systems and methods according to theinvention, updated split times may be provided to an athlete during theevent, e.g., based on the past performance during the event. Theseupdated split times may be adjusted, based on the past performance, tostill enable the athlete to meet his/her preset timing goals, assumingthat all succeeding split time goals are met.

The split time information (and/or optionally any other desiredinformation relating to the route, etc.) may be downloaded to a portabledevice carried by or with the athlete during the event, such as a watch,beeper, PDA, music or video player, or the like. This portable devicemay be populated with the split time and/or other data via any desiredmeans or in any desired manner, such as a radio link, wireless datalink, wired data link, cell phone link, satellite link, etc. While thisaspect of the invention may be utilized in combination with receipt ofGPS data, receipt of GPS data is not a requirement for all examples ofthis aspect of the invention. For example, one could download target laptimes or split times from the Internet or another data source to theportable device for popular events (e.g., marathons or other races)without use of GPS data.

Many variations on these examples and aspects of the invention arepossible without departing from the invention.

7. A Running “Power” Parameter

An additional aspect of this invention relates to determination, use,and display of a “power” parameter associated with running. In cyclingand various other forms of exercise, there are devices available capableof measuring the amount of power expended versus time for the athlete.In cycling, this parameter corresponds to or relates to the power thatthe cyclist expends to overcome bicycle tire rolling resistance, windresistance, moving mass over altitude, change in inertia for rotatingand non-rotating components, and so forth. It is relatively easy tomeasure this parameter for a cyclist, because there are severalconvenient ways to tap information regarding the power expended by thecyclist, e.g., at the pedal, in the crank, or with the chain. There isno equivalent “power” measurement parameter for running because of thedifficulty in accurately measuring power transferred in the shoe.

Systems and methods according to at least some examples of the inventionmay use a new derivation or estimate of running “power,” e.g., usingspeed and altitude change data generated from GPS, pressure sensors,and/or other sensors carried by the athlete during the event (e.g.,integrating an accelerometer data, etc.). For example, knowing the abovedata, and due to the fact that one can closely approximate drag (e.g.,from speed, weight, size, wind speed and/or direction (optionallyneglecting the wind effects)) and inertia (due to speed change andmass), a running “power” parameter may be determined This new powerparameter may be used as a useful training metric, much the way thatheart rate is, as indicating a measure of athletic output during aperformance. The running power may be displayed on the wrist or otherportable display, on the personal computer pre- or post-exercise, and/oron any other desired device.

8. Example Hardware

As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, aspects of thisinvention may be practiced using electronic circuitry, such as solidstate circuitry. Various examples and aspects of the invention, however,may be implemented using computer-executable instructions, such assoftware program modules, executed by programmable computing devices.Because these examples and aspects of the invention may be implementedusing software, the components and operation of a typical programmablecomputer system on which such examples and aspects of the invention maybe employed will be described. More particularly, the components andoperation of a programmable computer will be described with reference toFIG. 7. This operating environment is only one example of a suitableoperating environment, however, and it is not intended to suggest anylimitation as to the scope of use or functionality of the invention.

In FIG. 7, the computer system 700 has a programmable processor system702, such as one or more microprocessors implemented on an integratedcircuit. The computer system 700 also may have a plurality of inputdevices 704 and/or output devices 706, as well as a memory 708. Theinput devices 704 and output devices 706 may include any devices forreceiving input data and providing output data, respectively, includingconventional devices known in the art. As some more specific examples,the input devices 704 may include, for example, keyboards, microphones,scanners, network connections, disk drives, and/or pointing devices forreceiving input from a user or another source. Examples of suitableoutput devices 706 may include, for example, display monitors, speakers,printers, tactile feedback devices, network connections, and diskdrives. These devices and systems, and their connections, are well knownin the art, and thus will not be discussed at length here.

The memory 708 may be implemented using any combination ofcomputer-readable media that can be accessed, either directly orindirectly, by the processor system 702. The computer-readable media mayinclude, for example, microcircuit memory devices, such as read-writememory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), electronically erasable andprogrammable read-only memory (EEPROM) or flash memory microcircuitdevices, CD-ROM disks, digital video disks (DVD) or other opticalstorage devices. The computer-readable media also may include magneticcassettes, magnetic tapes, magnetic disks or other magnetic storagedevices, punched media, holographic storage devices, or any other mediumthat can be used to store desired information.

In at least some examples of the invention, the computer system 700 alsomay include one or more interface devices 710 for exchanging data withother computers. The interface device(s) 710 may include, for example,modems, wired network cards, wireless network cards, and/or any othersuitable device(s) for communicating with one or more remote computers.Each of the processor system 702, the input devices 704, the outputdevices 706, the memory 708, and the user interface device 710 may beinterconnected using a data bus, as is conventional and known in theart. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the data busmay by implemented using any type of suitable bus structure, includingthrough conventional structures known in the art.

D. Conclusion

While the invention has been described with respect to specific examplesincluding presently preferred modes of carrying out the invention, thoseskilled in the art will appreciate that there are numerous variationsand permutations of the above described systems and methods. Thus, thespirit and scope of the invention should be construed broadly as setforth in the appended claims.

1. An athletic performance monitoring system, comprising: a globalpositioning monitor that receives satellite signals; a physicalperformance monitor that monitors acceleration; a processor programmedwith computer-executable instructions to cause the athletic performancemonitoring system to perform the steps comprising: (a) determining whensatellite signal data is available; (b) when satellite signal data isavailable, determining speed and distance of an athlete with datacontained in the satellite signals received at the global positioningmonitor; and (c) when satellite signal data is not available,determining speed and distance of the athlete with the accelerationmonitored by the physical performance monitor.
 2. The athleticperformance monitoring system of claim 1, further including a displaythat displays speed and distance information.
 3. The athleticperformance monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the processor isfurther programmed with computer-executable instructions to calibratethe physical performance monitor with data from the global positioningmonitor.
 4. The athletic performance monitoring system of claim 1,further including a physiological monitor.
 5. The athletic performancemonitoring system of claim 4, wherein the physiological monitorcomprises a heart rate monitor.
 6. The athletic performance monitoringsystem of claim 4, wherein the physiological monitor comprises a pulsemonitor.
 7. The athletic performance monitoring system of claim 4,wherein the physiological monitor comprises a temperature monitor. 8.The athletic performance monitoring system of claim 1, further includingan audio player.
 9. The athletic performance monitoring system of claim8, wherein the audio player is configured to play MP3 files.
 10. Theathletic performance monitoring system of claim 1, further including adata transmitter.
 11. The athletic performance monitoring system ofclaim 1, further including a data receiver.
 12. The athletic performancemonitoring system of claim 1, further including a cell phone link. 13.The athletic performance monitoring system of claim 1, further includingan interface configured to exchange data with a computer device.
 14. Acomputer-readable medium containing computer-executable instructions forcausing an athletic performance monitoring system to perform the stepscomprising: (a) receiving satellite signals; (b) receiving accelerationdata; (c) determining when satellite signal data is available; (d) whensatellite signal data is available, determining speed and distance of anathlete with the satellite signal data; and (e) when satellite signaldata is not available, determining speed and distance of the athletewith the acceleration data.
 15. The computer-readable medium of claim14, further containing computer-executable instructions to cause theathletic performance monitoring system to utilize satellite signal datato calibrate speed and distance determinations made with theacceleration data.
 16. The computer-readable medium of claim 14, furthercontaining computer-executable instructions to cause the athleticperformance monitoring system to play music.
 17. The computer-readablemedium of claim 14, further containing computer-executable instructionsto cause the athletic performance monitoring system to calculate heartrate.
 18. A method of determining athletic performance comprising: (a)receiving satellite signals at a global positioning monitor; (b)determining acceleration at a physical performance monitor; (c)determining when satellite signal data is available; (d) when satellitesignal data is available, at a processor determining speed and distanceof an athlete with data contained in the satellite signals received atthe global positioning monitor; and (e) when satellite signal data isnot available, at the processor determining speed and distance of theathlete with the acceleration determined by the physical performancemonitor.
 19. The method of claim 18, further including generating musicwith an audio player.
 20. The method of claim 18, further includingdetermining heart rate of the athlete with a heart rate monitor.